Jen Cummins
Question:228. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce speed limits in urban areas from 50km/h to 30km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31581/26]
View answerThursday, 30 April 2026
Questions (228)
Written answers
Following my direction, the Department of Transport issued a Circular to local authorities on 16 October 2025 requesting that they:
• conclude the adoption of special speed limit bye-law process for the built-up and urban area speed limit changes no later than 30 October 2026; and
• install all new poles and signs in advance of the new speed limits effective date, to ensure implementation of all urban speed limit changes by 31 March 2027.
As part of this process each local authority is required to undertake a statutory public consultation process and consider all representations, in accordance with the requirements of the ‘Road Traffic Act 2004’, as amended. This period of public consultation will provide an opportunity for members of the public and all stakeholders to engage with the process and to make representations to the local authorities and the elected members on the proposed speed limit changes. As the making of ‘special speed limit bye-laws’ is a reserved function, the speed limits on roads in built-up and urban areas will only be changed where a majority of the elected members vote to do so.
This approach recognises and respects the positive and important role local authorities, and the elected members, fulfil in setting speed limits in urban areas. It will allow local authority engineers, familiar with the roads and the local traffic conditions in their respective administrative areas, to review the existing speed limits, and to recommend changes to these speed limits, if appropriate, and with due regard to the procedures and the criteria set out in the ‘Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland’.
Responsibility to commence and manage the statutory public consultation for the proposed speed limit changes and to ensure the aforementioned deadlines are met, is a matter for the local authorities. The Department of Transport will provide funding support to local authorities to assist with the implementation of urban speed limits changes.